Americans are tightening grocery budgets as food costs stay high.
Circana data shows beef is holding strong, making up more than half of fresh meat sales, which is good news for cattle producers.
Meanwhile, plant-based alternatives are starting to lose ground. In-store branded products are on the rise as shoppers hunt for deals and value.
People are shopping more often but buying less each trip, and many are blending grocery runs with dining out while trying to cut food waste.
Beef demand at the grocery store is not just showing up on the shelves.
Cull cow prices are hitting record highs as tight cattle supplies and strong ground beef demand push markets higher.
The National price for 85% lean cull cow topped $300 per hundred pounds last week.
USDA reports retail ground beef prices also hit record levels in June.
Higher U.S. tariffs on Brazilian beef could mean fewer imports, which helps support domestic cull cow prices.
Producers could now have a choice: sell now or hold cows for next year’s calves. If more cows are slaughtered, it could slow herd rebuilding into 2026.
Cattle producers face mounting pressure as U.S.-Mexico trade talks resume, but expanding drought, rising input costs, and policy work to improve the long-term industry outlook.
April 06, 2026 01:27 PM
·
JBS representatives told Reuters that the original deal has not changed and that they welcome employees back to the facility.
April 06, 2026 11:08 AM
·
Rancher and Americans for Prosperity Director Tyler Lindholm breaks down the Wyoming Food Freedom Act, clarifies licensing questions, and discusses the future of local agriculture in the state.
April 02, 2026 03:43 PM
·
Michael Cliver discusses his recent visit to the White House with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Trump Administration’s “Working Families Tax Cuts” impact on ranching families.
April 01, 2026 11:30 AM
·
Secretary Rollins is signaling a possible reopening of the southern border to Mexican feeder cattle as officials work to manage the threat of the New World Screwworm.
March 31, 2026 03:27 PM
·
Processing disruptions could impact cattle markets if the strike continues.
March 30, 2026 01:08 PM
·
